Hair foundation roll



April 4, 1939.

J. W. W. HOLDEN HAIR FOUNDATION ROLL Filed Sept. 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l In are: for

000 00 00 000 o on o o April 4, 1939.

J. w. w HOLDEN HAIR FOUNDATION ROLL 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

[wrenfor JQA/w. :0. 14/611; 2, %%M/-e Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My present invention relates to the hair curling art, and has particular reference to a foundation that is left in the curl to give it shape, and to the manufacture thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a foundation for curls in the back of a wearers head which is easily inserted and is extremely light, and which has sufficient resiliency to retain its shape.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings illustrating my invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the foundation as it leaves the braiding machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the tool used for distending the foundation shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the foundation stretched upon the tool shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partially cut away, showing the distended foundation with the ends turned in; v

Fig. 5 is a plan view, particularly cut away, of the completed foundation;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a distended foundation of small diameter;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same, inserted in a tool for turning in the ends;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same, with the tool having turned in the end;

35 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the foundation on the tool shown in Fig. 3, and set upon a heater; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the foundation braiding.

the numeral I0 designates the foundation as it comes from the braiding machine. This is made with a specially coated and impregnated cotton thread which gives it resiliency and which can be dyed in various hair colors to match the wearers hair. The thread is run through a conventional braiding machine such as used for making shoelaces, with the machine set so that a fairly wide strip is braided, preferably about one-half inch; the preferred length is about one foot. The thread is preferably cotton threads, dyed and lacquer sized to produce an imitation horse hair, and is three strand, three twists to the inch; the most suitable braider is a 60 braider, although a Referring more in detail to the above drawings,

44 braider may be used, the thread having twelve picks to the inch.

A long, slender, metal tool, tapered at one end, see Fig. 2, is then inserted into this braided strip and forced through it. This expands the braiding while contracting the strip to about one-half its original length, and gives the strip a cylindrical form, see Fig. 3. The tool II with the expanded strip thereon is now rolled over a heated plate l2, see Fig. 9, this plate merely comprising a steel plate with electrical heating elements beneath the same; the heat and pressure set the strip in its cylindrical shape so that when it is slipped off the tool I I, it retains its new shape. The unfinished ends l3 of the wider foundations are then turned in by hand, and the strip is put back onto the tool II and run over the plate l2 once more to press the turned-in ends tightly into the strip. The completed product I4 is a cylindrical hollow form made of braided imitation horse hair with finished ends, which is very light and resilient, and returns to its set form when stretched or compressed.

In making foundations for small curls, it is necessary to use a much narrower braided strip having a much smaller diameter. After this small strip is taken off its tool, it is difficult to turn the unfinished ends thereof in by hand, and I therefore use a special tool for this purpose. As illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, the small braided strip I5 is squeezed together at one end and pushed partially into a cylinder I 6 of slightly smaller diameter than the strip I5; a plunger I1 is then pushed through the other end of the cylinder l6 and turns the unfinished edge l8 into the strip IS, the doubled portion riding upon the outer periphery of the cylinder l6, as shown in Fig. 8. The plunger i! has a pin I 9 slidable in a slot 20 in the cylinder I6 to limit its movement, and the cylinder "5 has a pair of arms 2| extending at right angles thereto for gripping the same when the plunger is forced down. After the unfinished end has been turned in, the plunger and cylinder are withdrawn and the strip is finished in the same manner as the larger strip heretofore described.

As is evident from the foregoing, the resultant product is resilient and light, and admirably adapted to perform its intended function. The hair can be readily curled about the same, and retaining pins are easily pushed into the ends to hold it in place. It can be worn by the user without removal through the entire day and is made in any color so that it matches the color of the hair and is invisible.

From the foregoing it is also obvious that by using the method described, the foundation can be economically and rapidly assembled.

Although imitation horse hair is preferred, other materials such as very fine stainless steel wire, for example, may be used if desired.

While I have described a specific form of curl foundation and a specific method of making the same, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as changes may be made to suit the requirements for different foundation designs, within the spirit .and scope of the invention as defined by the 'pended claims.

I claim:

1. A foundation for a hair curl comprising a hollow cylinder of braided, dyed, imitation horse hair set to retain its shape and having the open ends thereof turned inwardly.

2. A method of making foundations for hair curls comprising braiding a resilient material into an elongated annular strip, stretching it into the form of a hollow cylinder, and setting the cylinder by the use of heat and pressure.

3. A method of making foundations for hair an elongated annular strip, stretching it into the' form of a cylinder over a tool, turning in. the

ends, and setting it in its final form by the application of heat and pressure.

6. A method of making foundations for hair curls comprising braiding a resilient material into an elongated annular strip, stretching it into the form of a cylinder over a tool, turning in. the ends, and setting it in its final form by the application of heat and pressure by rolling it over a heated plate before removing it from the tool.

JOHN W. W. HOLDEN. 

